Plans have been unveiled for the redevelopment of the former Sextant bar site into a high-quality, 25-storey residential scheme of more than 200 apartments.

The development will be a purpose-built apartment scheme on Carey’s Tool Hire site, which Cork company the JCD Group purchased earlier this year.

The site extends from Albert Road along Albert Street, fronting Albert Quay and includes the former Sextant Bar, as well as the former Terminus for the Cork-Blackrock & Passage Railway. 

The proposed scheme will comprise of 201 apartments; with 95 one bed, 102 two bed and 4 three bed apartments.

The company has begun a fast-track planning application to An Bord Pleanála under the Strategic Housing Development guidelines.

The JCD Group has been responsible for some of Cork's most significant developments in recent years, completing more than 1.65 million square feet of commercial buildings including The Capitol on Grand Parade, the City Gate complex in Mahon, 85 South Mall, One Albert Quay and the Penrose Dock development currently under construction.

More than 4,500 people are working in JCD developments.

Part of the proposed Carey's site scheme will include the relocation of the bar and restaurant use from the former Sextant premises to the protected Ticketing Office and Railway Terminus Building located on Albert Street, the creation of an internal public plaza and the refurbishment of the Station Offices for office use.

The development will include a 25th-floor residents’ lounge and dining area which will be available to all residents of the scheme; residents’ gym; public café; co-working space; games room; and a basement with car spaces, large area for bicycle parking, refuse and recycling as well as dedicated storage areas for the apartments. 

The scheme has been designed by architects Henry J Lyons with input from London based Urban Initiatives Studio and tall buildings specialist Richard Coleman from CityDesigner, as well as conservation architects JCA.

Richard Coleman of CityDesigner said: “Our vision for city-based living is to provide Cork with its first ‘build to rent’ high-quality residential scheme at a key axial location between the city and the docklands, whilst enhancing and respecting the architectural heritage of the area.”

John Cleary, CEO of JCD said the development of residential apartments was in response to constant feedback from multinational clients in relation to their concerns at the lack of suitable accommodation for their employees in the city centre.

"It's been almost 12 years since the last new city centre apartment scheme of scale was completed in Cork City and given the ongoing momentum we are witnessing in the office sector, should the residential schemes not be brought forward, the ongoing development of the City Centre will be compromised," he said.

Conor Healy, Chief Executive at Cork Chamber of Commerce said: “The delivery of new apartments in Cork city is the number one priority for business right now and so we very much welcome this high-quality proposal for more than 200 new rental units. Cork’s Docklands is in the midst of a total transformation and will soon be home to thousands of new jobs.

Tánaiste and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Trade, Simon Coveney said: “Cork is set to be the fastest growing city in Ireland for the next 20-years and, as well as quality jobs, we are going to need to see ambitious and quality residential developments. This development is amongst the most exciting on a prime site in the heart of the city."